Multi-purpose covers for containers



Nov. 17, 1964 P. J. JUDGE MULTI-PURPOSE COVERS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 29, 1963 2 SheetsSheet 1 l- I W rI/ /I ,r/ II/III/III/ {I I .INVENTOR. Zl2z2622224 Y/Darmk Judge ATTURAEYS'.

Nov. 17, 1964 P. J. JUDGE MULTIPURFOSE COVERS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Pa Zrz'ck J Judge Arrmvtys.

United States Patent 3,157,304 MULTI-PURPQSE COVERS FOR CONTAINERS Iiatriclr J. Judge, 473 72nd St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Oct. 29, 1%3, Ser. No. 319,772 4.- Claims. (Cl. 2151-41) This invention relates to replaceable covers for containers such as bottles, jars, cups and the like, having smooth or beaded edges.

According to the invention there is provided a flexible plastic cap or cover provided with a plurality of con centric grooves defining flexible annular flanges or ridges which snap over the rim of a bottle, jar, cup or the like. The flanges may have beads formed thereon to engage underneath ribs or beads formed on the rims of the containers. The covers embodying the invention can be removably engaged on containers of different diameters. Circular scored lines or grooves may be provided in the covers to facilitate tearing away annular portions of the covers to vary the sizes of the covers. The concentric grooves and ridges may be provided on one or both sides of the cover and the ridges on the opposite sides may be differently spaced radially of each other, to accommodate the covers to containers having different wall thicknesses.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide covers adapted to fit snugly on containers of different diameters and wall thicknesses.

It is another object to provide a cover as described with circularly scored portions to facilitate tearing away excess portions of the cover.

A further object is to provide a cover as described made of flexible plastic material.

Still another object is to provide a cover having multiple concentric grooves and ridges on opposite sides to engage on containers of different sizes, with beads formed on some of the ridges to engage underneath beads on edges of the containers, the ridges and grooves on the opposite sides being differently spaced to accommodate containers having different wall thicknesses.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cover embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cover.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cover and part of a bottle.

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating another form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan View of another cover mounted on a container.

IG. 9 is an enlarged view partially in cross section and partially in side elevation taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the cover of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 9 showing the cover of FIGS. 8-10 in inverted position on a container.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a con Patented Nov. 17, 1964 "ice tainer cover 20 having a flat upper side 21 formed with a plurality of concentric radially spaced circular score lines 22 which facilitate tearing the cover to remove outer annular portions thereof. A radial score line 23 intersects the circular lines 22 and extends inwardly from the outer peripheral skirt 24 of the cover so that the I cover can be torn first radially along line 23 to the particular line 22 and then torn circularly to remove the excess outer annular portion of the cover. Score line 23 has a vertical score line portion 23 at the outer side of cover sldrt 24; see FIG. 3.

At the underside 25 of the cover is formed a plurality of circular concentric grooves 26 alternating with concentric flanges or ridges 28. Each of the flanges or ridges 28 has a radially inwardly extending annular head 39 which engages underneath bead B or B of a container C1 or C2 as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3. The radially spaced grooves 26 will receive rims of containers having different diameters. One surface of each of the flanges or ridges 28, except the outermost flange 31, as viewed in FIG. 3, is adapted to frictionally engage on the inner sides S of the container walls while the beads 30 engage underneath the beads B or B on the outer sides S of the container walls. A -slit 32 may be provided in the outer skirt 24 through outermost head 36 in communication with score line portion 23' to facilitate starting the tear or cut of the cover. Score lines 22 are located respectively between the flanges or ridges 28.

FIG. 5 shows cover 20? which has been cut at score line 22' to form a cover of minimum diameter. The cover has a central depending conical core 33 disposed radially inward of innermost groove 26 for fitting in frictional engagement with opening 0 in the neck N of container C3. Container C3 may be a bottle for containing a beverage. Bead B" of the bottle neck N will be engaged by the bead 39" on the inner side of ridge 28.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show another cover 29 which is similar to cover 20 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. On the inner surfaces of flanges or ridges 28 are formed ridges 35. These ridges are V- shaped in cross section. Each ridge has an upper inclined face 36 and a lower inclined face 38 angularly disposed to side 36. The side 38 is beveled or slanted outwardly to guide the beaded rim 39 of a container C4- into one of grooves 26 where the rim will be engaged by face 36 of a ridge 35 as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 6.

In FIGS. 810 is shown another circular cover w in which parts corresponding to those of covers 20, 20 and 20 are identically numbered. Cover 20 has a concentric plurality of grooves 40 formed in its flat side 4-1 as shown in FIG. 10. The walls 42 of these grooves are cylindrical and snugly engage opposite sides S1 and S2 of the wall 43 of containerCS. This container may he a cup or jar containing a beverage or other liquid L or any fluid substance. Part of the outer skirt 24 of the cover is shown broken away in FIG. 9 to expose the rim 45 of the container.

Concentric score. lines 22 are provided in the side 41. Radial score line 23 intersects grooves 22 to facilitate tearing the cover along any selected groove 22 The score line portion 23' extends downwardly and inwardly tat skirt 24 of the cover as shown in FIG. 9. Score lines 22* are located between grooves 40.

On the other side 44 of the cover 26 are concentric grooves 26 These grooves alternate with annular ridges or flanges 28* having beads 30 extending inwardly from their edges at side 44. Any one of these beads 30* will engage under a head 46 at the rim 48 of a container such as container C6 shown in FIG. 11. The cover 20 has the same structure as cover 26 but is in an inverted position, and part of the cover is torn away at the score line or groove 22" which new forms the outer edge of the cover.

The several circular grooves and ridges may be equally spaced, or they may be unequally spaced if desired, to accommodate the cover to containers having different thicknesses of walls. It will be noted particularly in FIG. 9, that the spacing of walls 4-2 in each of grooves 40 is narrower than the spacing of the walls 51, 53 of grooves 26 Thus grooves 26 can receive a container rim having a thicker Wall.

All the container covers 20 and 20 2ii described, are preferably made of flexible plastic material such as heavy gauge vinyl copolymer, polyethylene, or the like. Such material is very strong moistureproof, inexpensive, washable, and repeatedly reusable. The material is elastic so that it can be snapped repeatedly past the beads on the rims of cups, jars, necks of bottles, and other containers.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A cover for a circular rim of a container, comprising a circular fiat, flexible, plastic member, having a plurality of concentric grooves in one side thereof defining a plurality of endless concentric ridges with cylindrical surfaces, each one of said grooves having a different diameter so that a rim of a container of different diameter may be frictionally engaged in any one of the grooves, each ridge having a bead extending radially inward of the groove all around said ridge to engage under a bead on the rim of a container engaged in the groove, the other side of said member having a plurality of concentric score lines disposed radially between the ridges on the one side of said member with a radial score line intersecting said concentric score lines, to facilitate tearing away annular portions of said member.

2. A cover for a circular rim of a container, comprising a circular flat, flexible, plastic member, having a plurality of concentric grooves in one side thereof defining a plurality of endless concentric ridges with cylindrical walls, each one of said grooves having a different diameter so that a rim of a container of different diameter may be frictionally engaged in any one of the grooves, the inner surface of each first-named ridge having a ridge extending radially inward of the groove all around said ridge, said last-named ridge having an inclined outer face to guide the rim of a container into the groove, and

having an inclined inner face to engage under a bead formed on said rim, the other side of said member having a plurality of concentric score lines disposed radially between the ridges on the one side of said member with a radial score line intersecting said concentric score lines, to facilitate tearing away annular portions of said member.

3. A cover for a circular rim of a container, comprising a circular fiat, flexible, plastic member, having a plurality of concentric grooves in one side thereof defining a plurality of endless concentric ridges with cylindrical walls, each one of said grooves having a different diameter so that a rim of a container of different diameter may be frictionally engaged in any one of the grooves, the inner surface of each first-named ridge having a bead extending radially inward of the groove all around said outer wall to engage under a bead on the rim of a container engaged in the groove, the other side of said member having another plurality of endless concentric grooves defining endless other concentric ridges with other cylindrical walls for engaging rims ofother containers, the spacing of the ridges defined by the first'named grooves being different from the spacing of the ridges defined by said other grooves to accommodate containers having different wall thicknesses, the other side of said member having a plurality of concentric score lines disposed radially between said other ridges to facilitate tearing away annular portions of said member.

4. A cover for a circular rim of a container, comprising a circular fiat, flexible, plastic member, having a plurality of concentric grooves in one side thereof defining a plurality of endless concentric ridges with cylindrical walls, each one of said grooves having a different diameter so that a rim of a container of different diameter may be frictionally engaged in any one of the grooves, the inner surface of each first-named ridge having a bead extending radially inward of the groove all around said outer wall to engage under a head on the rim of a container engaged in the groove, the other side of said member having a plurality of concentric score lines disposed radially between the ridges on the one side of said member with a radial score line intersecting said concentric score lines, to facilitate tearing away annular portions of said member, said member having a central, generally conical core at said one side thereof within the groove of smallest diameter to define a closure for a narrow opening in the neck of a bottle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,736,536 Banowitz Feb. 28, 1956 3,019,933 Gould et al. Feb. 6, 1962 3,089,588 Correll May 14, 1963 

1. A COVER FOR A CIRCULAR RIM OF A CONTAINER, COMPRISING A CIRCULAR FLAT, FLEXIBLE, PLASTIC MEMBER, HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC GROOVES IN ONE SIDE THEREOF DEFINING A PLURALITY OF ENDLESS CONCENTRIC RIDGES WITH CYLINDRICAL SURFACES, EACH ONE OF SAID GROOVES HAVING A DIFFERENT DIAMETER SO THAT A RIM OF A CONTAINER OF DIFFERENT DIAMETER MAY BE FRICTIONALLY ENGAGED IN ANY ONE OF THE GROOVES, EACH RIDGE HAVING A BEAD EXTENDING RADIALLY INWARD OF THE GROOVE ALL AROUND SAID RIDGE TO ENGAGE UNDER A BEAD ON THE RIM OF A CONTAINER ENGAGED IN THE GROOVE, THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC SCORE LINES DISPOSED RADIALLY BETWEEN THE RIDGES ON THE ONE SIDE OF SAID MEMBER WITH A RADIAL SCORE LINE INTERSECTING SAID CONCENTRIC SCORE LINES, TO FACILITATE TEARING AWAY ANNULAR PORTIONS OF SAID MEMBER. 